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(No Modeml.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

B. T. SPELMAN.

GRAIN DRILL.

No. 605,524. l Patented June 14.1898.

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(No Model.) y z sheets-'sheet 2.

B. T. SPELMAN. 'GRAIN DRILL.

No. 6053524. Patnted June 1'4, 189e.

yrm 275mm@ Nirn- GRAIN-DRILL SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters `Patent. No. 605,524, dated Junell, 1898.

Application lccl September 23, 1897. Serial No. 652,702.. (No model.) l

Another object is to provide a combinationv plow or furrow-opener and delivery-tube which cannot be applied t-o any other kind of grain-drills now in use, and a still further object is to provide a feeddiopper which can be regulated to discharge the grain as desired. Another Objectis toconstruct the drill in independently-m ovable sections,whereby the drill can be used for sowing the seed upon `the side of a hill or on level ground.

Vith these various objects in View my invention consists in the peculiar construction of the variousparts and in their novel combination or arrangement, all of which will be .fully described hereinafter and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a grain-drill constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 8. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4. is a detail perspectiveview of the combined plow or furrow-opener and delivery-tube. Fig. 5 is a bottomperspective View of the same part. Fig. G is a transverse sectional view taken on the linerG 6 of Fig. 2.

In carrying out my invention I employ a main frame A,essentially rectangular in shape and longer from side to side than from front to back, said main frame being provided with a suitable draft-pole A.

Within the main frame A is arranged a series (two in the present instance) of rectangular-shaped frames B, centrally pivoted between the front and rear sides of the main frame by means of the pivot-bolts B. An axle C is journaled near the rear end of each frame B, and mounted upon each axle is a supporting and operating drum D, provided I with the annular bands D, which serve the' purpose of pressing-bands for covering up the grain deposited in the furrow. In the drawingsI have shown four such bands applied to each drum., but it'will of course be understood that any desired number may be employed.

A cross-beam E is arranged upon each frame B, and mounted upon this cross-beam is the hopper F, the bottom of which has a series of openings F', four in number, and upon the bottom of each hopper is arranged a sliding cut-off valve G, operating by 4means of a handle-lever G', arranged upon the end of the hopper, said sliding vcut off valve having openings G2, adapted to register with the openings F and permitthe grain to pass from the hopper, as most clearly shown. p

In order to prevent the grain clogging with'- iu the hopper,I employ a rotary agitator-shaft H, having the agitatingarms I-I' arranged thereon, and at the outer end ofv said shaft is arranged thesprocket-wheel Haround which passes the 'sprocket-chain 'I, said sprocketf .chainhbeingdriven by means of a larger sprocket K, mounted upon theouter end oi"y each drum, as shown in Figs. l, 2, and 3. It will. thus be seen that as the machine is drawn along over the field the' grain within the hopper is thoroughly agitated, and by regulating the sliding cutoii valve any desired quantity of grain can be dropped through the openings F into the discharge-tubes L, said discharge-tubes in turn leading into the flexible connecting-tubes M, which connect the delivery-tube Npwith the hopper, said deliverytube N being arranged upon 'the bottom of the plow or furrow-opener O, which plow or furrow-opener is carried upon' the lower end of the standard O,'which passes upward through a hinge-board O2 and is connected at its upper end by means of a lever O3, mounted `upon the bracket O4, and surrounding the standard between the plow O and hinge-board O2 is a coiled spring Q5, the purpose of which is to normally hold the plow or furrow-opener in its proper operative position. TheV board O2 is hinged to a cross-beam4 O8, as. most clearly shown in Figs. l and 2.

The forward end of the furrow-opener or plow is bent outwardly, as shown at 06, so that it will engage theearth at a point lower IOO than the bottom of the delivery-tube N, so that the earth will pass upward over the plow or furrow-opener and will be guided by the side flanges O7 back to the rear end of the delivery-tube N and will there fall over the grain deposited in the furrow beneath the plow or opener, as most clearly shown in Fig. 2.

lThe bottom of the delivery-tube is preferably bent inwardly, as shown at N', in order to distribute the grain evenly at each end or side.

By means of the lever O3 any one or all of the plows can be raised whenever'desired, and, if necessary, the board. O2 can be tilted forwardly, thereby lifting the plow or furrowopener away from the ground, such adjustment being found convenient when moving the grain-drill from one place to another.

From the above description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the operation and advantages of my improved construction of grain-drill will be apparent to every one skilled in the use of agricultural implements.

By having the grain-drill constructed in independent sections the drill can be used for sowing grain upon the hillside and each hopper will be held in the proper positions and the agitator shaft and arms operated to properly distribute the seed. Furthermore, the connection between the hopper and dropper is such that the grain will be quickly and easily fed to the dropper, and the peculiar construction of this dropper, comprising, as it does, a plow or furrow-opener and deliverytube arranged beneath the same, insures the depositing of the grain properly within the furrow and prior to the fall of earth thereon. The earth falls quickly upon the grain after passing over the plow or furrow-opener, and as the drums are provided with coveringbands which are arranged directly in line with the furrow the rolls will be rolled down in the proper manner, thereby insuring the sowing of the seed in a thorough and novel manner.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a grain-drill, the combination with the main frame, of the independentlypivoted supporting-frames arranged within the main frame and the hopper, the dropper and the operating mechanism arranged within each pivoted frame, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a grain-drill, the combination with the main frame of the independentlypivoted frames arranged within the main frame, the grain-hopper arranged upon each frame, the drum provided with covering-bands, the operating-sprockets and chain and the dropper arranged also in each frame, said dropper being connected to the hopper, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a grain-drill, thecombination with the main frame of the independent frames pivoted within the main frame, the hopper and drum arranged in each frame the discharge and connecting tubes, the delivery-tube and the plows or furrow-openers to which the delivery-tubes are attached, substantially as shown and described. Y

et. In a grain-drill, the combination with the standard of the plow or furrow-opener arranged upon the lower end of said standard and the delivery-tube arranged beneath the said plow or furrow-opener the forward end of said plow being bent downwardly at a point below the forward end of the delivery-tube, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a grain-drill, the combination with the standard of the plow or furrow-opener having the side flanges and the forward end bent downwardly and the delivery-tube arranged upon the under side of the said plow, the bottom of said delivery-tube being pressed inwardly at the forward end, substantially as shown and described.

G. In a grain-drill, the combination with the main frame of the independent frames pivoted within the main frame, the hopper arranged upon each frame, the drum provided with covering-bands, the sprockets and drivechain, theagitating-shaft having arms sliding cut-off valve, the discharge and connecting tubes, the delivery tube and furrowopener, the standard to which the said furrow-opener is attached the cross-beam O8, and the hinge-board O2 through which the standard passes, the hand-lever for raising said standard and the coiled spring surrounding the standard below the hinge-board O2 all arranged and adapted to operate substantially as shown and described.

BYRON T; SPELMAN. Witnesses:

ROBERT TILToN,

MICHAEL Wonnnun.

IOL; 

